Can an Ancient Martial Art be the Key to Better Health?

Slow. Steady. Mindful. Those probably aren’t the three words that come to mind when you think about working out. But those are precisely the characteristics that make Tai Chi such a beneficial workout for seniors.

A combination of graceful, purposeful, choreographed movements and meditation, Tai Chi calls on a mind-body connection that is shown to improve balance and prevent falls. Introduced in the U.S. from China in the 1940s, Tai Chi teaches you to be aware of how your body moves in space and how you shift your weight from foot to foot.

According to international Tai Chi fitness expert Scott Cole published in AARP, “Tai Chi practitioners also learn to sink into the earth and feel the connection with their feet, which can help them negotiate uneven surfaces.”

But a renewed steadiness is just the beginning of the many benefits of Tai Chi. It also helps decrease stress hormones produced by the sympathetic nervous system, which can lower your heart rate and blood pressure, while improving your immune system. It also helps fight osteoarthritis by reducing stiffness and easing pain.

Take a peek out on the patio at the Friendship Center during summer and you’ll find Friendship Village residents gracefully flowing through a Tai Chi class in the warm sunshine. And when the temperature drops, classes move inside to the Fitness Center.

The slow, deliberate nature of Tai Chi makes it the perfect low impact exercise that can be beneficial to seniors at any fitness level. As a resident of Friendship Village, Tai Chi is only one of the many classes, programs and activities you can participate in. Call to learn more about all the great programming offered today.